Switch construction



SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 13, 1927 Edw1"d N15 cuhl I 15, W fi kwwg g/ Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD N. JACOIBI, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS 8a STRATTON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switch construction and refers more particularly to a switch of the type most commonly utilized on automotive vehicles.

In switches of the character described, it i is frequently customary to provide mountin electrical engagement with one terminal and the .other of which is fixed on the outer end ofa bracket member secured tothe head in electrical engagement with another terminal, the bracket arm being mounted by a brass bushing, forming a terminal and adapted to enter an aperture in the bracket member to be riveted thereover. I This construction is objectionable in that it requires a brass bushing, the operation of inserting the same in place and an electrical connection between the bushing and the fuse bracket, and this invention has as an object the provision of an improved switch fuse mounting bracket construction wherein the terminal is integral with the bracket to eliminate the brass bushing, the labor cost of insorting the same and the necessity of an electrical joint between the bracket and the terminal.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved switch construction of the character described in which the fuse carrying bracket has a tongue pro- 4 jection adapted to be extended through an opening inthe terminal carrying head and clinched thereover to mount the bracket and form a contact terminal.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved fuse mountingbracket for a switch device which is formed in one piece, is capable of easy attachment to the terminal carrying head, effects an economy in construction by eliminating one part and the labor cost of inserting the same and which is more efficient as it eliminates one electrical joint.

With the above and other objects in viewwhich will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of 1927. Serial No. 183,460.

parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have il lustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according'to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the back of a portion of an automotive vehicle dash board or instrument panel illustrating my improved device applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2-2;

Figure 3 is a perspective View illustrating in detail the construction of the terminal carrying head and fuse mounting bracket carried thereby, and

Figure 4 is a detail view of the blank from which the improved bracket member is formed.

Referring now more particularly to the accompany ng drawing, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 designates a switch casing adapted to be suitably mounted on the dash board or instrument panel 6 of an automo tive vehicle. An escutcheon or mounting plate '7 surrounds the switch which consists of suitable mechanism for controlling, in the present instance, the ignition and the lighting circuits of an automotive vehicle.

The lighting circuit of the switch consists of a driver member 8 controlled by a suitable operating lever 9 and rotating within the casing 5 in the conventional manner. Driving lugs 10 carried by the driver mem ber project into the casing through arcuate slots therein and are drivingly connected with a fibre disc 11 controlling a contact carrier 12 having spring contact fingers 13 ment with terminals 14 mounted on a terminal carrying head 15. The head 15 closes the inner end of the casing 5 and the wires of the circuit in which the terminals 14 are included are suitably connected to the terminals at the rear of the head. As will be readily apparent, rotation of the lever 9 engages the spring contact fiugers 13 with sets ofterminals 1 1 to close the various circuits of the lighting system.

The ignition or other circuit is operated independently of the lightin circuit through ia. key actuated tumbler 16 having an elongated driving lug 17 extended into the easing for driving engagement with a fiber disc 18 carrying a contact l having two type of switch whether solely ignition or lighting circuit or a combination of both as illustrated, and pertains especially to the improved means for mounting a fuse 24 in one of the circuits, the present embodiment illustrating its incorporation in the lighting circuit. The fuse 2 1 is preferably of the cartridge type and has its inner end engageable with a spring contact clip 25 in electrical engagement with one or more of the 0 terminals 1 1 and its outer end engaged with a spring contact clip 26 carried'by the outer.

end of a bracket member 27 The bracket member is stamped from a one-piece blank, as illustrated in Figure 4:,

and has an elongated tongue portion 28 at its inner end with a pair of lateral lugs 29 spaced inwardly thereof, the tongue and lugs being bent, as illustrated in Figure 2, to form a base portion 30 engaging the outer or 0 rear faceof the terminal carrying head 15 with its end 31 extended through a slot 32 therein which is clinched thereover, as at 33, to secure the bracket member to the head 15, the clinched portion of thelug 28 form 5 ing the terminal 22 and having a depression 1 therein to receive the end of the spring contact finger'20. The lugs 29 are formed on the "vertical'portion of the bracket member at its juncture with the portion 30 and are 0 twisted approximately 'ninety degrees. to.-

form side flanges and extend through slots 35 in the head 15, being clinched over the head to, with the tongue 28, rigidly mount the bracket member. The forming of the 5 lugs 29 at acute angles with respect to the tongue 28' provides a substantially channel shaped base portion for the bracket member proper to give added rigidity, as will be readily apparent.

0 From the foregomg description taken .in

connection with the accompanying drawing, it willbe readily apparent-to those skilled in the art to which an invention of the character described appertains that I provide a i5 novel and improved fuse mounting bracket member which is constructed in one piece to bling cost, which is more effective in operatlon in that the necessity of an electrical joint between the terminal 22 and the fuse mounting bracket is eliminated and which is of very strong and durable structure. What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a switch construction, a terminal;

carrying head having a pair of spaced substantially parallel slots therein and another sl-ot disposed transversely with respect to the first slots, a bracket member adapted to be mounted on the terminalcarrying head, a tongue portion carried by the bracket member and extended through the last-mentioned slot and folded over the terminal'carrying head to clamp the bracket member in place, and lugs carried by the bracket member and extended into the first-mentioned slots of the terminal carrying head.

2. In a switch construction, a terminal carrying head having a pair of parallel spaced slots and a transverse slot, a bracket member, a laterally extended base portion at the inner end of the bracket member terminal carrying headfa tongue extended from the bracket member and passed through the terminal carrying head transverse slot and clinched over the head to sej cure the bracket member in .place, the clinched portion'of said tongue forming a terminal, and'lugs carried by the bracket member and extending into the first slots of the terminal carrying head. i

3. In a switch construction, a terminal carrying head having a pair of parallel spaced slots and a transverse slot, a bracket member, a laterally extended base portion at the inner end of the bracket member adapted to engage the outer surface of the terminal carrying head, a tongue portion extended from the bracket member and passed through the terminal carrying head slot and clinched over the head to secure the bracket member in place, said tongue portion forming a terminal, and lugs carried by the bracket member and extending into the first slots ofthe terminal carrying head, said lugs being clinched over the inner surface of the terminal carrying head to assist'the tongue portion in rigidly mounting the bracket member on said head.

4. In a switch construction, a terminal carrying head having a pair of parallel effect 'an economy in material and assemspaced slots and a transverse slot, a bracket means; 3

ortion forming a terminal, lugs carried y the bracket member and extended into the first slots of the terminal carrying head, said lugs being clinched over the inner surface of the terminal carrying head to assist the tongue portion in rigidly mounting the bracket member on said head, and means for electrically connecting a conductor with the bracket member.

5. In a switch construction, a terminal carrying head, a bracket member, a laterally extended base portion at the inner end of the bracket member adapted to engage the outer surface of the terminal carrying head, a tongue portion extended from the bracket member and passed through the terminal carrying head and clinched thereover to secure the bracket member in place, said tongue portion forming a terminal, lugs carried by the bracket member and extended through the terminal carrying head and clinched thereover to assist the tongue portion in rigidly mounting the bracket member-on said head, means for electrically connecting the conductor With the bracket member, a fuse clip fixed to the terminal carrying head adjacent the .base of the bracket member, and a second clip carried by the outer end portion of the bracket member.

6. In a switch construction including an substantially parallel slots therein and. another slot disposed transversely with respect to the first slots and switch instrumentalities mounted Within the case and including a movable contact, a terminal member adapted to be mounted on the terminal carrying head, a tongue port-ion carried by the terminal member and extended through the last-mentioned slot and folded over the terminal carrying head to secure the terminal member in place, and lugs carried by the terminal member and extended into the first-mentioned slots of the terminal carrying head.

7. In a switch construction, a terminal carrying head of insulating material, a curved segmental strip disposed concentri- -cally on one face of the terminal carrying head to provide an elongated contact, a metal bushing secured to one end of the segmental strip and passed through the tcrminal head to present a tapped terminal screw receiving hole to the other face of the terminal head, and the other end of the segmental strip being passed through an opening in the terminal head and clinched thereover whereby said elongated contact is secured to the terminal head at both ends.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atiix my signature.

EDW'ARD N. JACOBI. 

